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Jody LaMacchia Announces Candidacy for Michigan 46th State House District

Oxford, Mich., Feb. 7, 2019 -- Bolstered by the “blue wave” that carried an unprecedented number of Democratic women to victory last November, longtime political leader Jody LaMacchia will officially announce her candidacy for the Michigan 46th State House District seat at a launch party on Thursday, Feb. 21, 2019, at Homegrown Brewing Company in Oxford, Michigan.

LaMacchia will be on the ballot as a Democratic candidate in the November 2020 election. She is starting to campaign early in order to listen to the needs of her community while building a strong grassroots team who can “bridge the divide” and bring positive change to North Oakland County. The 46th State House District includes Addison Township, Brandon Township, Lake Orion, Leonard, Oakland Township, Ortonville and Oxford.

“I’ve decided to launch my campaign now because I can feel the momentum in our community,” says LaMacchia. “We’ve already established a strong campaign team and have comprehensive plans to meet with as many voters as possible between now and November 2020.”

LaMacchia, 47, is chair of the North Oakland Democratic Club and founder of North Oakland Women – Making A Difference, a group dedicated to encouraging women to run for office and providing grassroots support once they do.

“I’ve always believed in the value of hard work and diligent preparations as a path to success -- and starting early gives us a real chance to affect change in a traditionally Republican stronghold,” she says.

The focus of her campaign will be on the “fundamental values” shared by residents of District 46. “We all want what is best for our families and our community,” says LaMacchia. “We all want our families to have access to quality healthcare, well-funded schools and safe roads and drinking water. We all want jobs that pay a fair wage to allow us to care for our families. I will be a strong voice for our area in Lansing, persistently working for my community’s best interests.”

“Bridging the Divide”
As a family counselor and conciliator with Oakland County for the last 17 years, LaMacchia regularly helps families work through differences and find amicable solutions. She promises to bring the same sensibilities to District 46 as State Representative – and that’s reflected in her campaign slogan, “Bridging the Divide.”

“The common thread of my life has always been service,” says LaMacchia. “I am continually looking for ways to improve the lives of those in my community. Despite the current political climate, I know we have more interests in common than issues that divide us. I am running for this position because I believe it is time for us to have someone in this office that represents all of the people in North Oakland County.”
A lifelong interest in politics led LaMacchia to volunteer for Barack Obama’s presidential campaign in 2008. She was quickly tagged for a leadership role and led a successful local get-out-the-vote (GOTV) effort. She became a member of the North Oakland Democratic Club, and in 2017 was elected chair of the group.

Since then, the club has significantly boosted its membership, and LaMacchia helmed another impressive GOTV campaign in 2018. Those efforts increased Democratic turnout in state races in the previously solid Republican area and helped elect Democratic women in the state senate and 8th Congressional districts, in addition to boosting totals for those at the top of the ticket.

“It was an honor and an inspiration to support so many amazing candidates,” she says. “We moved the needle in North Oakland – and I believe this is the right time to lay the groundwork for a winning campaign in the 46th District in 2020.”

LaMacchia will announce her candidacy alongside her wife Samantha LaMacchia and son Cameron. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Central Michigan University and a master’s degree in clinical psychology from Roosevelt University in Chicago. Raised in Holt, Michigan, she has lived in Oxford for nearly 20 years.

To learn more about LaMacchia and her campaign, visit her website at www.Jody2020.com. In the coming months, she will be holding town halls and attending many community events. Follow the website for the most updated schedule.

“I’m looking forward to meeting many more residents in our district to find out what matters most to them – and how I can help raise their voices and amplify their concerns,” she says.